The Chinese Bamboo

Have you heard the story of the Chinese Bamboo? The remarkable thing about this bamboo is that it takes five years for it to emerge from the ground. But when it sprouts, it grows rapidly in five weeks to a height of over 80 feet – as long as the bamboo was well nurtured. Now look, I don’t know whether this bamboo really exists or if this is a parable told to teach us a lesson. Either way, let’s think about what this bamboo’s growth teaches us about our own lives.

First, growth (and resulting change) can take years. No one was ever born six feet tall and Rome wasn’t built in a day either. However, when you aren’t seeing any results or outcomes, how do you keep nurturing the growth? You need to have a clear picture of what you want in your life. Understanding this is another key factor to remember when it feels like nothing is growing in your metaphorical garden.

Change happens faster when you eliminate what you don’t want and focus on what you do want. When you don’t know what you want, try meditation. I can hear the groans, but consider this: how can anyone know what you want when you don’t even know? Remember our bamboo? It didn’t grow 80 feet tall in just five weeks; it spent five years underground being nurtured from above.

Accept help. Accept nurturing. But know that you are the catalyst for growth in your life. Only you can do the inner work necessary for the change you want in your life. But remember that if you need a little support (or a lot).